The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded theory to determine if the affective domain, supported by affective leadership, was prevalent within Alabama's effective middle schools. The objective was to determine if a connection exists between the schools' knowledge, characteristics, and practices relative to the affective domain and…

Challenging behaviors are considered predictors of poor outcomes and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for such behaviors. There is limited research on how the functions of such behaviors and intervention strategies aimed at reducing them may differ by context. Using a researcher-designed survey, this study…

The teacher-student relationship is a vital component to the social, emotional, and academic growth of students. Nationwide the one constant in teachers' classrooms are the observations by administrators. Administrators play a supporting role for students and teachers in our modern educational system. The present case study examined four middle…

This dissertation explores the relational worlds of a single child with a significant disability. Previous research on relationships for individuals with significant disabilities has heavily relied on the perceptions of and information from others, rather than the individual with a disability him or herself. This research is an ethnographic…